THE world has just witnessed 10 of the most extraordinarily, emotional days of its modern history, occasioned by the death of an equally extraordinary human being, the former South African President Nelson Rolihlala  Mandela. His passing, though expected, opened a groundswell of mourning, tributes and praises that came from every region of the world, as  national  leaders and other notable personalities  paid homage to a man who  has been hailed as one of history’s towering giants.  He was mourned by an entire world of different peoples, for the rare values that he practised, first as a human; and, second,  as a leader of his country, especially assuming the Presidency after a most unjust and difficult experience of almost three decades of imprisonment.
Indeed he  was able to achieve –  what most, arising from such a bitter experience, then becoming a national leader of a country with its peculiar challenges – would not have been able to do, and that is lead it to peaceful transition, despite the many challenges he faced. It was President Barack Obama who was most appropriate, when he concluded his memorial speech, by saying that Mandela’s type is not likely to be seen again.
Today,  this great son of Africa  sleeps among his ancestors, in very tranquil and peaceful surroundings in his hometown of Qunu, in the sprawling hills of the Transkei. The serenity of his eternal repose, matches his natural life lived as one of history’s greatest peacemakers.
As expected, there was the presence of almost 100 world leaders – all coming to pay homage to this great man; and, inclusive of this grouping would have been some of the most noted authoritarian leaders, whose stewardship of governance leaves much to be desired.
How could such leaders have sung the praises of human dignity, respector of human rights, upholder of the greatest tenets of democracy, and of individual freedoms  – all deservedly  ascribed to the great Madiba, Mandela’s affectionate clan name,  when such dignities they deny their very own citizens?   Those leaders are well known, so they need not be mentioned, except to say, that daily, via the international media, the results of their denial of freedoms are seen!
Africa’s Big Men, what remains of them, immediately comes under the spotlight.  The case of Zimbabwe’e Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is a  significant example of a leader whose understanding of democracy,  has been definitely contrary to the ideals that he upheld, when he fought against  the repressive Ian Smith’s illegal regime of the former Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe’s former name. Ironically, he needs no introduction, for he, like Mandela, had been imprisoned, though for a short  period, then afterwards leading the guerilla offensive against the  combined  Rhodesian and  apartheid South African Defence Forces.  Rightly, he belongs to that special, select group of African freedom fighters who fought against the policy of white racism on the African continent.
But, It has since  been 30 years of  an independent Zimbabwe, with Mugabe as President of a country, whose citizens’ freedoms have been  brutally  dealt blows unexpected of a leader,  who had been instrumental in  defeating the racist white forces in a bitter bush war. The circumstances of the 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections, very dubious in their respective  outcomes, considering the lengthy wait before the official results, point to a leader, who believes that he alone has the right to rule his country, without challenge. His security forces’ consequent assault on the followers of his rival Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement For Democratic Change(MDC) party,  the closing down of that country’s many media houses, and the arrests and detention of its  many editors, conclude that Mugabe has not only betrayed his countrymen/women, but also all  of the great values that Mandela practised as a leader.  Had Mandela adopted such strategies, the history of South Africa would have been markedly different, especially politically and socially.
Those African dictators, Mugabe inclusive, ought to have been ashamed, praising  Mandela for principles and values, which they themselves do not practise in their daily governance, and have denied their respective state’s citizens. They must endeavour to allow their peoples the freedoms and human dignity, which they had promised at the beginning of their stewardship.